While it’s been much quieter inside the Business Learning Community this summer, there has been a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for the return of Terry College students to campus this fall.
“In our preparations, we have rearranged classroom seating, installed cameras and microphones, and implemented new deep cleaning procedures,” said Dean Benjamin C. Ayers. “Faculty have been redesigning their instructional plans and applying important lessons from our pivot to remote instruction in the spring and summer. I am confident that we are ready to provide the high level of academic engagement and educational experience that our students expect from us.”
Terry faculty and staff have been working to create an environment where students can excel academically and build their social and professional networks while keeping them safe. Maintaining those connections throughout the term is going to require everyone to do their part.
Faculty and staff who are not already working on campus will return on August 10. Students will begin returning to campus August 14, and classes will begin August 20.
We’re all in this together
The University of Georgia will require all students, faculty, staff and visitors to wear a face covering while inside campus buildings and while in groups outdoors. Wearing a mask will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing. Two reusable masks and a digital thermometer are being distributed before the semester starts to all students.
A successful return to campus also means students, faculty and staff taking personal responsibility for their health and staying away from campus if they are sick. In preparation, each member of the campus community will take an online health and safety training module before returning to campus to get familiar with the new safety measures.
Fall instruction
Faculty, advisors and staff all across campus are ready to help students acclimate to the new learning environment. As a starting point, UGA is recommending that students use their access to eLearning Commons to take the non-credit eLC Experience course — a set of online, self-paced learning modules from the Division of Academic Enhancement showing how to learn in an online or hybrid environment.
At the Business Learning Community, Terry’s facilities staff is reconfiguring common areas and classrooms to provide six feet of space between seats. In classrooms, they are removing seats or marking the seats that can be used and increasing the space between the instructor and the first row of students.
Because classrooms will be reset — leaving about 25-30% of their normal seating capacity — Terry faculty primarily plan to utilize two methods to teach classes.
The HyFlex model rotates the portion of students who attend class in-person while other classmates learn online or through a recorded lecture. All students will have access to recorded lectures and in-person class time at some point during the week. It also ensures that every student, even those with high-risk health concerns, have access to the material being taught.
The other model flips the class, with instructors posting lectures online prior to the assigned class time. In-person instruction is then used to cover problems in greater depth, review challenging material and answer student questions. Similar to the HyFlex method, instructors will record the in-person instruction for students not in attendance.
Common areas and meeting rooms have been reconfigured as well. In areas where lines and crowds naturally form — outside classrooms and restrooms — signage will remind students to limit the number in line and observe social distancing.
Cleaning and disinfecting
The Business Learning Community will have hand sanitizer at building entrances and in classrooms, as well as large containers of hard-surface disinfectant wipes in classrooms. Signage throughout the buildings will remind students to use both when they change classes.
Facilities and custodial staff have adopted even more thorough cleaning and sanitation schedules to support a safe learning environment. The college has inventoried high-touch areas in the buildings and will disinfect door handles, stairway railings, faucet handles and elevator buttons several times a day.
Student activities and career prep continues
Most Terry College student activities and career recruitment events will be held virtually this fall, but the calendar is full.
“We’re staying connected, not canceled,” said Sharen Phinney, director of Undergraduate Student Services. The Corporate Engagement team will host remote programs with employers, and Student Engagement is lining up its familiar professional development series like Terry Talks. Over the summer, USS offered a six-part career readiness series online and saw high participation.
Academic advising will move to virtual appointments at Terry. Advisors will meet individually with students for scheduled appointments through Zoom or by phone.
Prospective students are still welcome to tour the Terry College during fall semester, but they need to first contact USS to make arrangements. The virtual tour of the Business Learning Community is a good place to start.
In short, faculty and staff are ready to once again hear the familiar sounds of a campus coming back to life in the fall.
“With the help and support of everyone involved, we will make this fall a safe and successful semester for students, instructors and everyone in our campus community,” Ayers said. “As always, we are committed to providing an outstanding education and the very best career opportunities to our students.”